Shloka 13

Śāpaprāpti (Receiving a Curse) — Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

मंड वा गतोद्वा यथा सरः । मंथानं नवनीते वा उद्धृते धरणीपते ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

maṃḍa vā gatodvā yathā saraḥ | maṃthānaṃ navanīte vā uddhṛte dharaṇīpate || 13 ||

Translation

Tâu Chúa tể cõi đất, như váng trên mặt hồ được vớt bỏ, hay như cây khuấy được rút ra khi bơ đã được lấy—cũng vậy, nên buông bỏ điều đã hoàn thành công dụng của nó.

Word by Word

• maṃḍam: weak/feeble
• maṃḍam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maṃḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative, Singular; used adverbially ‘slowly/feebly’ or as predicate ‘weak’ (reading uncertain due to corrupt pāda)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa-dyotaka (विकल्प-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक निपात)

• gata-udvāḥ: with something gone/removed (corrupt reading)
• gata-udvāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त, क्त; गम् धातु) + udvā (प्रातिपदिक; uncertain)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; text appears corrupt (gatodvā). Interpreted as a tatpuruṣa ‘gone/removed …’ modifying saraḥ contextually

• yathā: as/just as
• yathā: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative indeclinable

• saraḥ: a lake/pond
• saraḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• maṃthānam: churning-stick
• maṃthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṃthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• navanīte: in butter
• navanīte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: navanīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa-dyotaka (विकल्प-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक निपात)

• uddhṛte: when taken out/removed
• uddhṛte: Kāla/Avadhi (काल/अवधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-√hṛ (धातु) → uddhṛta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; agrees with navanīte (locative absolute-like)

• dharaṇīpate: O lord of the earth (king)
• dharaṇīpate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharaṇī-pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dharaṇyāḥ patiḥ)

Speaker

Sage Narada (addressing a king as 'dharaṇīpati')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches purposeful renunciation: once purification or the intended spiritual result is obtained, one should let go of the auxiliary impurity or instrument—like scum removed from water or a churner removed after butter is obtained.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

In bhakti, supports and practices are honored as means to reach the Lord; after the heart yields the ‘butter’ of pure devotion, the devotee drops ego, residue, and needless attachment, remaining steady in simple God-centeredness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It indirectly reflects the Vedic method of using upāyas (means) skillfully—like a ritual tool used correctly and then set aside—an applied principle aligned with kalpa (ritual procedure) and dharma-śāstra pragmatism.